Michigan

Scouting Report: Eric Beverly

A guard when he arrived in Detroit in 2001, Beverly left for Atlanta in 2005 and was converted to a tight end. He caught one pass for zero yards in his two years there, partly because he was a blocking tight end and mostly because he was playing with Alge Crumpler.

When the Lions signed him as a free agent, they didn't have any grand plans in store for him. They figured he as a versatile guy with toughness and strong character. What they found out very quickly, though, is that Beverly is a very good athlete who can catch the ball, block with some power and also pick up the offense very quickly. That last part is essential when it comes to finding playing time with coordinator Mike Martz.

With Dan Campbell still sidelined with the triceps injury - and Casey FitzSimmons and Sean McHugh playing multiple roles - Beverly is getting a lot of snaps at tight end and he's been impressive.

He doesn't have Campbell's experience in the receiving game, but Beverly could be a threat - especially in the two-tight end formations - because nobody's going to pay a lot of attention to him. Look for Martz to put Beverly in motion to give him the best matchup possible.

Note: Keep up with the Lions daily during the offseason, all the way up to training camp, with my scouting report on each player on the roster. Each report is open to your opinions and analysis in the comments area below.